“You’re scared of your children?” my friend asked with a slight smile.
“Terrified. And terrified for more than terrified of” I replied. This was not the expected script for a conversation on homeschooling and parental control of education. It was, however, my truth.
My friend had thought I would respond with delight when she mentioned the idea that I could be everything for my kids. My friend happily embraced homeschooling for years. She found joy in the wonderful role of sole academic guide for her family and wanted to share that joy with other mothers.
Many parents are empowered by rhetoric which reminds them that as a parent is a child’s first teacher the parent is also the child’s best educator because the parents knows and loves the child.
And then there is the rest of us. We know that our kids need school. We know that sometimes love is not enough. Or, rather, we know that sometimes a parent’s love is enough simply as a parent’s love, without trying to be be teacher, coach, and classmates.